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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Fund issues strain Congress in supporting its candidates

Ramesh raised concerns about the freezing of the party’s bank accounts by the Income Tax department…reports Asian Lite News

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh recently addressed the media, shedding light on the challenges the party faces in supporting its candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He attributed these difficulties primarily to a financial crunch exacerbated by what he described as actions taken by the central government. Despite these obstacles, Ramesh expressed confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, asserting that the opposition alliance would secure a resounding victory.

Ramesh raised concerns about the freezing of the party’s bank accounts by the Income Tax department and alleged that a substantial amount of money received through public funding had been misappropriated by the Prime Minister. He also highlighted instances of what he termed as daily humiliations faced by Congress leaders, attributing these attacks to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by governmental actions, Ramesh emphasized the party’s resilience and determination to persevere. He underscored the importance of supporting candidates who represent diverse sections of society, including youth, women, and farmers, and dismissed attempts by the BJP to intimidate the Congress.

Ramesh projected confidence in the prospects of the opposition INDIA bloc, predicting a clear majority of over 272 seats in the Lok Sabha. He anticipated that regional parties from the Northeast would align with the anti-BJP coalition following the election results.

Switching focus to China’s territorial claims and renaming of Indian places, Ramesh reaffirmed India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and criticized the BJP government’s response to Chinese incursions. He accused the Prime Minister of weakening India’s negotiating position by denying Chinese occupation, emphasizing the need to safeguard India’s territorial integrity.

Characterizing the current election as a battle to safeguard democracy, the Constitution, and the country’s diversity, Ramesh criticized the BJP for perpetuating injustices against various segments of society. He outlined the Congress manifesto’s focus on addressing unemployment, price rise, and social inequalities, presenting it as a solution to rectify past injustices.

Addressing the exodus of leaders from the Congress, Ramesh dismissed concerns, portraying it as an opportunity for dedicated young individuals to step up within the party. He derided those who left as opportunists seeking refuge in the BJP, likening the party to a “washing machine” and Prime Minister Modi to a purifying agent.

Refuting Prime Minister Modi’s comparison of the Congress manifesto to that of the Muslim League, Ramesh condemned the analogy as shameful and highlighted historical alliances between the BJP’s ideological predecessors and the Muslim League. He affirmed the Congress’s commitment to its manifesto and expressed confidence in the electorate’s support for the party in the upcoming election.

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-Top News Environment UAE News

COP28 Achieves Breakthrough on Loss & Damage Fund

The recommendation, if adopted by consensus at COP28 has the potential to impact “billions of people, lives and livelihoods who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”…reports Asian Lite News

COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber heralded the successful conclusion of a vital United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting on the implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund, held in Abu Dhabi, as a vital step towards a successful outcome on the road to COP28.

Once up and running the fund would provide particularly vulnerable countries, many at extreme risk from climate change, with funding to support recovery from the impacts of climate change.

Dr. Al Jaber said: “As we have shown in Abu Dhabi, Multilateralism works. The Transitional Committee has broken deadlocks and and found common ground to deliverclear recommendations- Parties must seal the deal in Dubai and fulfill our obligations on the Loss and Damage Fund.”

The recommendation, if adopted by consensus at COP28 has the potential to impact “billions of people, lives and livelihoods who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.” They, Dr. Al Jaber said, “depend upon the adoption of this recommended approach at COP28.”

The Fifth Meeting of the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage, held on 3 and 4 November in Abu Dhabi, has produced recommendations including the provision of much-needed, grant-based support to countries particularly impacted by climate and loss. At COP28 Parties will now be responsible for operationalizing the fund.

“I welcome the agreement reached in Abu Dhabi by the Transitional Committee,” Dr. Al Jaber said in a statement. “This clear and strong recommendation to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund and funding arrangements, paves the way for agreement at COP28.”

The agreement to establish a Loss and Damage fund was heralded as a key breakthrough at COP27 held in Sharm El Sheikh.

“There is still more work to do but I would like to thank the Transitional Committee, including co-chairs Outi Honkatukia of Finland and Richard Sherman of South Africa, for all their long days in getting to this stage. We have sent a clear message, unity won the day,” said Dr. Al Jaber.

The COP28 Presidency hosted the meeting after the previous session ended without conclusion. The Transitional Committee was established after COP27 to make recommendations for consideration and adoption at COP28, which is starting in 25 days, in Dubai. The UNFCCC managed the Committee meeting.

The agreed recommendations will now be socialized with national governments ahead of COP28, so the fund can be activated and capitalized.

The COP28 Presidency has repeatedly advocated for the operationalization of the fund and funding arrangements, with Dr. Al Jaber stating at last month’s Pre-COP event that Parties “must deliver” on the fund. Progress in loss and damage represents “taking action for the world’s most climate vulnerable people,” he told delegates during the event.

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-Top News UK News

Terror survivors call on UK to fund post-attack support

Cox said it was vital that support was coordinated through a state-backed survivors’ hub or agency…reports Asian Lite News

A group of campaigners who have survived or been left bereaved by terrorist attacks will meet the UK’s home secretary Tuesday to call for a state-funded support scheme.

Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox and co-founder of Survivors Against Terror, will tell Priti Patel that granting terror victims minimum guarantees of support should be a key part of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy.

Ahead of the meeting, he told The Guardian: “Part of our way of saying ‘f*** you’ to terrorists is to show that survivors won’t be left to stew, but will be properly supported by the state.

“Whenever a terror attack happens, ministers get up and talk about how we will look after the survivors, but in reality that isn’t happening.”

SAT will present Patel with a proposed terrorist survivors’ charter that guarantees them immediate financial support, rapid access to psychological support, and a compensation fund.

The eight-point charter also includes guaranteed legal support and a national memorial day for terrorist survivors.

The charter was drawn up in consultation with SAT’s network of 300 people caught up in terrorist incidents across Britain, including the Manchester Arena bombing, the Fishmonger’s Hall stabbings, and the London Bridge attack.

Cox said it was vital that support was coordinated through a state-backed survivors’ hub or agency.

He said: “This shouldn’t be left to the lottery of charity. The shift that we’re calling for is one where there are minimum legal rights. That needs to happen quickly, because we don’t want another generation of survivors to go through what the survivors of the Manchester attack or London Bridge attack had, which was just completely inadequate.”

He added: “There have been survivors who have contemplated suicide, and survivors who have ended up self harming because of that lack of support.”

Cox compared Britain’s approach with that of France or Belgium, saying: “In the UK terror survivors are treated like the victims of a traffic accident, but in France and Belgium and some other countries, attacks on civilians are seen as proxy attacks on the state and therefore the state has a duty to look after them.”

Even French citizens caught up in the London Bridge attack opted to use the French system because it is “more efficient and more generous.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously promised to consult on a survivors’ charter, and Cox said he and SAT are determined to hold him to that pledge.

“Committing to a consultation isn’t the same as committing to bringing it in, so we are going to keep campaigning until we see the details,” he said. “We need a sort of survivors and victims champion, as opposed to something that just sits within government and does what it is told.”

The Home Office told The Guardian: “We will continue to collaborate closely with Survivors Against Terror to ensure the Survivors Charter informs our review into the wider support package available to victims of terrorism and any subsequent recommendations of that review.”

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-Top News Defence EU News

European Commission Launches Defence Fund

Last month, the Commission had proposed a Joint Cyber Unit to address increasing concern around cyber-attacks by bringing together member states’ resources to respond to the threats more rapidly…reports Asian Lite News.

The European Commission has formally launched the first European Defence Fund (EDF), which aims to support the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the EU defence industry.

The EU is earmarking a total of 1.2 billion euros ($1.43 billion) of funding for the year 2021 in support of collaborative defence research and development projects, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying on Wednesday.

Under the EDF’s precursor program, the European Defence Industry Development Program (EDIDP), 26 new projects with a budget of more than 158 million euros were selected for funding while two major capability development projects received a grant of 137 million euros on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said that with the EU’s first-ever dedicated defence program, European cooperation in defence will become the norm.

“Public authorities will spend better together, and companies – big or small – from all member states will benefit, resulting in more integrated European defence industrial value chains,” he said.

The 1.2 billion euros will finance projects such as the next generation of aircraft fighters, tanks or ships, as well as critical defence technologies such as military cloud, AI, semiconductors, space, cyber or medical countermeasures, he said.

Last month, the Commission had proposed a Joint Cyber Unit to address increasing concern around cyber-attacks by bringing together member states’ resources to respond to the threats more rapidly.

The unit will provide a virtual and physical platform for European Union (EU) institutions and agencies to collaborate with member states and share resources through secure channels.

It will serve as part of the EU Cybersecurity Incident and Crisis Response Plan, the Commission said in a statement.

Thierry Breton said, “The Joint Cyber Unit is a building block to protect ourselves from growing and increasingly complex cyber threats,”, Commissioner for the Internal Market.”

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Business Economy India News

Sitharaman unveils new set of relief measures

Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman has announced eight new relief measures to boost the economy, with a special focus on health and tourism, reports Asian Lite News

The Centre on Monday extended liquidity support to various stressed sectors of India Inc as well as micro credit borrowers and export oriented industries.

Accordingly, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced eight relief measures worth Rs 6,28,993 crore.

These measures entail enhancement of existing relief schemes such as ECGLS and support for state governments.

Besides, a total of four new measures were announced to provide loans to micro credit borrowers as well as tourism industry.

Further, Sitharaman announced Rs 50,000 crore guaranteed loan for creation of medical infrastructure.

She said that ECLGS scheme will be enhanced by Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Furthermore, she announced a Rs 1.1 lakh crore loan guarantee scheme for Covid-affected sectors.

She said that first 5 lakh tourist visas will be issued free of charge. This step will be taken once the visa issuance start.

Apart from these the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana has been extended till March 31, 2022 entailing government PF liability of employees and employers depending on the size of the organisation.

On exports, the minister announced support extended to National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) worth Rs 33,000 crore for project exports from India.

Similarly, support has been extended to ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India) worth Rs 88,000 crore for merchandise exports.

Additional funds worth Rs 19,041 crore was announced for Digital India scheme. Also, the tenure of large scale electronics manufacturing PLI scheme has been extended.

In addition, the Centre will come out with a new streamline policy for PPP and asset monetisation.

“Today’s announcement contained a mix of new schemes focussed on relief for the pandemic-affected sectors, extension of earlier schemes, as well a reiteration of recent announcements such as free food grains up to November 2021,” said Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, ICRA.

“The new schemes announced for the pandemic-affected sectors include the extension of guarantees of around Rs 2.6 trillion, which will have a limited fiscal cost upfront, even as their success will hinge on offtake.”

According to Madhavi Arora, Lead Economist, Emkay Global Financial Services: “While the measures are welcome and target Covid-sensitive sectors , most of the fiscal support is still below the line and in the form of loan guarantees, and not direct stimulus.”

“Overall, amid various push and pull, there is a likelihood of fiscal slippage to the tune of around 0.5 per cent from the initially budgeted 6.8 per cent.”

Further, Suman Chowdhury, Chief Analytical Officer, Acuite Ratings & Research said: “The other significant measure from the government is a credit guarantee scheme for the MFI sector which has also been particularly impacted by the second wave of Covid.”

“Since the MFI sector has exposure to the informal sector whose businesses have been substantially affected by the pandemic, its collections have taken a hit in the current quarter.”

In addition, Aloke Bajpai, CEO & Director, ixigo said: “The announcement of free tourist visa to first 5 lakh tourists coming to India by 31st March 2022 is a welcome step. This move will surely boost the morale of travel and tourism sector and aid in faster recovery of inbound tourism. With vaccination drives gathering pace and resumption of activities we are optimistic normal international flights will resume operations soon.”

“We expect to see similar moves from other countries to attract foreign tourists once borders open.”

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-Top News UK News

UK pledges £22mn cybersecurity funding for vulnerable countries

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
Speaking at the National Cyber Security Centre’s CYBERUK conference, Raab outlined the UK’s vision of being a leading responsible cyber power, working with partners to shape cyberspace according to our values…reports Asian Lite News.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has announced £22 million of new investment to build cyber security resilience in developing countries and globally, particularly in Africa and the Indo-Pacific.

As part of this the UK, jointly with INTERPOL, is setting up a new cyber operations hub in Africa working across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda to support joint operations against cybercrime.

Speaking at the National Cyber Security Centre’s CYBERUK conference, Raab outlined the UK’s vision of being a leading responsible cyber power, working with partners to shape cyberspace according to our values.

“We are working with like-minded partners, to make sure that the international order that governs cyber is fit for purpose,” the foreign secretary, in his speech, said. “Our aim should be to create a cyberspace that is free, open, peaceful and secure, and which benefits all countries and all people.”

“We want to see international law respected in cyberspace, just as we would anywhere else. And we need to show how the rules apply to these changes in technology, the changes in threats, and the systemic attempts to render the internet a lawless space,” he added.

The £22 million investment in cyber capacity building will target countries in Africa, the Commonwealth and Indo-Pacific, transforming their resilience by helping build national emergency response teams and promoting future leadership by funding new Chevening scholarships.

The new Interpol desk will work across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda, creating a regional strategy to support joint operations against cybercrime, and strengthen African states’ capability to combat the crime and those behind it. With some of the fastest growing economies in the world, Africa has become a target for opportune cybercriminals.

By creating a central coordination desk within INTERPOL that law enforcement across Africa can use, the UK hopes to improve collaboration across borders to advance intelligence sharing, and ultimately stop the perpetrators of cybercrime in Africa.

ALSO READ-Belgium unveils ‘summer plan’ to ease Covid curbs

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Palestine hit by Arab funding shortage

“The Arab countries and US haven’t sent any financial aid during 2020 until now”, said Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye…reports Asian Lite News

Palestine has not received financial aid from any Arab country for more than one year, Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said.

“Due to lack of Arab funds, the deficiency in the Palestinian budget climbed to $1 billion,” Xinhua news agency quoted Ishtaye as saying at a press conference here on Wednesday.

“The Arab countries haven’t sent any financial aid during 2020 until now. In addition, the US has suspended its financial support, which amounted to $500 million,” he said.

At the conference on the coronavirus crisis in Palestine, Ishtaye said the government is ready for austerity and reducing its running cost.

“This will not be at the expense of the health, the safety and security of the citizen and the education in Palestine,” he said.

The Prime Minister added the economic establishments, whether it is large, medium, or small, have all been affected by the repercussions of coronavirus crisis.

“The unemployment rate in the West Bank rose to 19 per cent, while the situation in the Gaza Strip is much worse,” Ishtaye said.

Also read:Palestine Accuses Israel with Manipulating Elections